The Southwest Heritage Racing Association, presented by MalloryPrint.com and Mears Mazda-Volvo, welcomed the AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 1-2-3 and Nostalgia Super Stock classes to San Antonio Raceway's "Nitro Nostalgia Boom" on Saturday, June 3rd. This event was presented by Be An Angel on behalf of the Cameron family and welcomed several dozen guests from the children's foundation, many of which were making their first trip to the drag races. Despite a stormy weekend across the lone star state, San Antonio Raceway stayed humid, but dry. Over 40 SHRA teams were in attendance in this third points race of the season.

                In AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 1, 4.65 is the magic eighth mile number and Steve Dunkin clocked a 4.66 at 152 mph to take the top qualifying position. Dunkin entered San Antonio fresh off his first SHRA win at the previous event in the blown "Foolish Pleasure" slingshot dragster. Tommy Drozd and Andy Mears qualified second and third with 4.69's while Chris Graves and Kent Carley rounded out the top five in the twelve car field.

Pre-race fun

AlkyDigger Nostalgia Eliminator 1 Final Qualifying Order:

1. Steve Dunkin (Aledo, TX) - 4.66 @ 152

2. Tommy Drozd (Lake Dallas, TX) - 4.692 @ 148

3. Andy Mears (Lubbock, TX) - 4.695 @ 148

4. Chris Graves (Denton, TX) - 4.75 @ 150

5. Kent Carley (Carrollton, TX) - 4.77 @ 140

6. Keith Zimmerer (Lindsay, TX) - 4.86 @ 145

7. Jason O'Neill (Mesquite, TX) - 4.88 @ 140

8. Tera Graves (Denton, TX) - 4.91 @ 145

9. Ted McCord (Claremore, OK) - 4.92 @ 144

10. Larry Bradford (San Antonio, TX) - 5.12 @ 137

11. Randy Mueller (San Antonio, TX) - 6.03 @ 139

12. Rick Goodale (Austin, TX) - 6.30 @ 113

Tommy Drozd

                The biggest upset of first round eliminations came when Jason O'Neill used a holeshot to take out top qualifier Steve Dunkin with a 4.83 at 141 mph to Dunkin's 4.67 at 151 mph. In the closest race of the round, Tommy Drozd' 4.6524 at 141 mph narrowly defeated Tera Graves' 4.6526 at 151 mph. Round two saw Keith Zimmerer, Kent Carley and Jason O'Neill all foul out with red lights as three cars were left standing in the semi-finals.

Chris Graves

Andy Mears

                Chris Graves benefitted from the semi-final bye run and posted a 4.75 at 150 to move into the finals. Tommy Drozd and Andy Mears were up next and uncorked a heck of a drag race. Side by side they blasted down the strip and at the stripe a pair of 4.62's with Mears taking the win light by the slimmest of margins. Graves and Mears hot lapped their blown alcohol machines back to the line and were the final racecars down the track for the night. At the flash of amber, Graves was off the line first but immediately went into tire spin and Mears wheeled the "Dragon Slayer" 1957 Chevy Funny Car to a winning 4.70 at 133 mph to take his second win of the season and extend his points lead. Congratulations to the entire team from Lubbock, Texas on their San Antonio SHRA NE 1 victory!

NE1 Winner - Andy Mears